So been messing around With the steering box. I've tried to use the "adjustment how to" in here. http://www.1bad6t.com/Maverick/repair/steering_03.html My car has slack in the steering so wanted to adjust it but it will not get Better. When i try to adjust the screw With locking nut I Can turn it counter clockwise. Everything seems Nice and loose. When i tighten the screw it "stops" at the same Place. It will not go in further.. so my question is.. is it possible That it is in the bottom and will not adjust more? I find That strange. It is 1cm to 1.5 cm sticking out from the box. When I look at YouTube clips it looks That it should go further in. Is it safe to unbolt the 3 screws holding the adjusting screw down to see what happens? I do NOT look forward pulling the steering box if i have to do That.. please help
Found this tread so i will try to unscrew the 3 screws and see if i Can see something wrong. The adjustment bolt on this rebuild tread looks like it is as far out as mine so I should be able to tighten it more....http://mmb.maverick.to/resources/steering-box-rebuild.31/
Not saying this is what you should do...but the screw on my old box was stuck from all the years sitting not being adjusted. So I had to apply some heat and wack it with a BFH and a screw driver. That released it and helped.... I would wait for other replies though. Also pulling the box really isn't that hard.
Well i Can turn the screw With my finger. I measured it now. It stands up 1.5 cm without the locking nut. It will not go in any further.... I dont think it is to hard to unbolt it. Just afraid That my headers are in the way. I've got av 351W in it and if they are in the way it is going to be a nightmare in hell hehe
The steering box has only so much adjustment. After it becomes too worn, it must be rebuilt or replaced. It would have to be extremely worn out for the adjustment to be ineffective. Make sure the rest of the steering components are in good shape, like idler arm, tie rod-ends, center link, etc. If that is sloppy, adjusting the steering box won't help.
Everything Else look good. I am sure its the steering box. But i'm also sure its not worn out.. i think maybe something is wrong within the box somehow. That makes it unable to adjust. Maybe i have to pull it out off the car to take it appart.
Are you holding the nut when screwing it in? So the nut isn't stopping it, or alot of rust or crud on the threads.
Yes i've tried holding the nut, removing the nut, turn the nut 5 turn open and try to screw everything down hehe. As Long as i Can turn the nut With my finger and There should not be any problems With the threads.
After trying "everything" i got my 5 year old daughter to help me. Each time she helps me we find the problem. So With med under the car and her behind the steering wheel we figured it out... it Was NOT the steering box. I did a sloppy job With checking all the joints... but With help from my daughter we found a joint with alot off slack. The joint connected to the pitman arm is the problem. Tried to fill it With grease but Did not help. So what is this joint called and is it possible to get ahold off? I got Power steering by the way.
That is the power assist control valve, (have heard it called other things as well). There should be some slop where it attaches. If it is too tight the ram may not push, pull, or both. I had one that only engaged the ram when turning left because the p.o. rebuilt it and had the joint too tight. The joint moving to the right or left in the valve is what tells the ram to push or pull. How much slop is too much, I could not tell you. However I believe somewhere on this forum is a procedure for adjusting it as per Ford instructions. With a stock/factory setup, there will always be slop in the steering, that was just the nature of the technology used on them 45 years ago.
So you Can adjust it? Now the steering wheel moves alot and the car is going slightly left and right when i drive it. Have to compensate With steering wheel all the time going straight.
Mine was initially like that when I first got it. Some of that may be due to the crummy caster these vehicles inherently have.
The only adjustment is nut under cap on end of linkage... Tighten till sung then back off 1/3-1/2 turn... Do notrun engine with cap removed, it will blow fluid out and maybe a seal...
